Patch arrangement for galvanic treatment

ABSTRACT

The invention refers to a patch arrangement for electric elimination of muscle spasms. The invention is based upon the object to employ electrotherapy through stable galvanization without external voltage source to attain high efficiency and to make it overall more practical. In accordance with the invention, the object is attained by arranging a plane electrode of different metals at both sides of the affected area. A further metal electrode is applied onto both of these skin contact electrodes at the other side or body-distant side thereof wherein the metals of these electrodes may correspond to those of both skin electrodes, however, with opposing polarity according to the electrochemical series. Both obtained compact bimetallic electrodes are insulated at their border against electrolytic shorting and attached to the body by means of the electrocardiographic electrode patch which is available in the medical trade. Moreover, by suitably selecting the metals, two additional galvanic elements are obtained upon the skin in series with the galvanic element composed of two different metals and already known in the literature.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention refers to a patch arrangement of electrically connectedelectrodes of different metals for application upon the human body forelectric influence of electrically acting structures of the organism.

When experiencing muscle spasms and irritations of the nerve rootespecially in the area of the spine, electrotherapy is increasingly thepreferred treatment. The aversion of employing a respective drug therapyincreases.

Application of a direct current through the tissue being treated (stablegalvanization) is of particular significance. In practice, largestationary devices are used which are also dimensioned for other typesof current (so-called stimulating current devices). Smaller portable andbattery-operated devices (so called TENS-devices) are commerciallyavailable for ambulant or medium-term continuous application. While alonger-term application with stationary devices is not feasible, thestill required size of portable devices renders their use stillinconvenient.

Treatment of muscle spasms of all types with a comparably smallpermanent current in the μA-range has proven to be very effective.Various arrangements were thus described which utilize the potentialdifference between two differently noble metals which are in contactwith the skin perspiration electrolytes for producing a current flowthrough the body tissue being treated. The arrangement according toGB-PS 3276 (1904) requires, however, very large skin electrodes foraccomplishing a sufficient current flow. According to CH-PS 171866, thegalvanic voltage is generated through different metal electrodes as wellas skin perspiration electrolytes and/or different fabric layers soakedwith electrolyte. In this context the use of adhesive coatings were alsoproposed, resulting in solutions which essentially constitute short-termutilizable, disposable articles with expensive metal electrodes.

GB-PS No. 288 of 1904 describes an alternate arrangement of superimposeddisks of noble metal and base metal, with reference to galvanicintermediate layers between zinc and copper; however, there is noexplanation with regard to the configuration of a closed circuit. Poorefficiency or impractical application are reasons that hitherto proposedtechnical solutions did not succeed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention aims at an increase of the current density in connectionwith skin contact electrodes which are kept as small as possible, at asimple handling as well as at an economic manufacture and thusapplication, by using an already commercially available product whichserves as inexpensive disposable article for attachment of thearrangement of electrodes upon the body surface and additionally forcreating further galvanic elements to increase the voltage. The subjectmatter according to the invention which includes only the metalelectrodes as the actual expensive part of the galvanic system and aborder insulation should be reusable and should have a relatively longlife.

This object is attained in accordance with the invention by initiallyarranging in a known manner a preferably round plane electrode ofdifferently noble metals at each side of the ailing body areas.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will now be described in more detail with reference to theaccompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a patch arrangement according tothe invention for application onto the skin for galvanic treatment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the patch arrangement of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of an example of a patch arrangement accordingto the invention; and

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a further example of a patch arrangementaccording to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawing and in particular to FIG. 1, there is showna schematic illustration of a patch arrangement according to theinvention for application onto the skin for galvanic treatment,including a preferably round plane electrode of differently noble metalsat each side of the ailing body areas.

A further metal electrode (2, 1') is applied onto both of these skincontact electrodes (1, 2') at the other side or body-distant sidethereof wherein the metals of these electrodes may correspond to thoseof both skin electrodes (1, 2'), however, with opposing polarityaccording to the electrochemical series. Both thus-created compactbimetallic electrodes (1, 2 and 2', 1') must be insulated at theirborder (3, 3') against an electrolytic shorting (FIG. 1).

Thus, two bimetallic disks with border insulation are obtained which caneasily be made and include the expensive part (metal) of anelectrogalvanic system in most compact form which are reusable and havea long life and which are designed in such a manner that they can besupplemented to a closed biogalvanic system via a clip contact cable (8)with the use of conventional electrocardiographic electrode patches (5,5').

This electrode patch (4, 5, 6, 7, and 4', 5', 6', 7', respectively)which is not part of the subject matter according to the invention thuscontains all elements of the biogalvanic system that are suitable forone time use or are of limited effectiveness (patch 5, 5'; electrode gel6, 6'). A very effective and also water-tight attachment is possible.Moreover, an additional galvanic element is respectively obtained uponthe skin between a body-distant metal electrode (2, 1') and the silverelectrode of a patch (4, 4') with the pertaining electrode gel (6, 6'),such as a silver chloride gel pad, in series to the galvanic element oftwo different metals (1, 2') as already known in the literature. Bysuitably selecting the metals, three galvanic elements are thus formed,with the series connection resulting in a significant voltage increasecompared to previous arrangements. For closing the electric circuitbetween both push-button contacts (7, 7') of the electrode patches, anelastic electrically conductive cable (8) is preferably used whichincludes spring contact eyelets (9, 9') at its ends. By incorporating avariable resistor in this cable, the user is able to control thecurrent.

FIG. 2 illustrates the structure of the above-described circuit asfollows:skin--(1)--(2)--(6)--(4)--(7)--(9)--(8)--(9')--(7')--(4')--(6')--(1')--(2')--skin.

FIG. 3 refers to an exemplified embodiment. Based on the objective toeliminate muscular spasms especially in the straight back musculatureand to eliminate the back pain and neck spasms frequently connectedtherewith in many people, the above-described arrangement ofelectrocardiographic electrode patch and double electrode is preferablyapplied at both sides of the aching area in longitudinal direction overthe spine to remain there for a longer period (several days arepossible).

Very effective currents can be generated when using suitable metals fromthe entire spectrum of the electrochemical series. The followingsequence of metals would be recommended in connection with the describedgalvanic triple system (FIGS. 2 and 3):

Aluminum (1)--copper, gold plated (2)--silver chloride gel pad(6)--silver (4)--silver (4')--silver chloride gel pad (6')--aluminum(1')--copper, gold plated (2')--skin.

For commercial use, a set with three double electrodes would beconceivable. Two round ones for application onto the dorsal spine andlumbar spine and a narrower one for direct attachment onto the hairlineon the back of the neck when symptoms are encountered in the shoulderand neck area. In the latter case of application, one of the rounddouble electrodes is respectively used in addition (FIG. 3).

The elastic and electrically conductive cable may be made of a strip ofrubber with copper wire strands applied thereon and with the clipcontact eyelets (9, 9') mounted at the ends thereof.

For application on patients with sensitive skin, it is possible tosubstitute both skin contact electrodes (1, 2') with those made of sameskin compatible and electrically conductive material. Since the galvanicelement of both these electrodes yields the smaller voltage fractioncompared to the other two galvanic elements (2, 6, 4 and 1', 6', 4'),the basic concept of the invention remains unaltered. It is alsopossible to incorporate carrier soaked with an electrolyte, such asmoist blotting paper soaked with soda, between skin contact electrodes(1, 2') and the skin as shown in FIG. 4 by reference numerals (10, 10').

I claim:
 1. A patch arrangement for application onto the skin forgalvanic treatment, comprising:a first double-layered electrodeincluding a skin-proximate layer of a noble metal and a skin-distantlayer of a noble metal; a second double-layered electrode including askin-proximate layer of a noble metal differing from the noble metal ofsaid skin-proximate layer of said first electrode and a skin-distantlayer of a noble metal differing from the noble metal of saidskin-distant layer of said first electrode; and connection means forelectrically connecting said first and second electrodes.
 2. A patcharrangement as defined in claim 1, and further comprising an insulationattached to a border area of each of said first and second electrodes.3. A patch arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein said connectionmeans includes a cable, and further comprising a variable electricresistor incorporated in said cable.
 4. A patch arrangement as definedin claim 1 wherein said connection means includes an elastic cable.
 5. Apatch arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein said noble metal for usein said first and second electrodes is a high-grade, readily skincompatible and electrically conductive metal.
 6. A patch arrangement asdefined in claim 1, and further comprising a carrier soaked with anelectrolyte and sandwiched between said skin proximate layers of saidfirst and second electrodes and the skin.
 7. A patch arrangement asdefined in claim 6 wherein said electrolyte is moist blotting papersoaked with soda.
 8. A patch arrangement for application onto the skinfor galvanic treatment, comprising:a) a first electrode patch includingaskin-proximate layer of a noble metal, a skin-distant layer of a noblemetal attached to said skin-proximate layer, and a silver electrodeprovided with a silver chloride gel pad applied upon said skin-distantlayer; b) a second electrode patch includinga skin-proximate layer of anoble metal differing from the noble metal of said skin-proximate layerof said first electrode patch, a skin-distant layer attached to saidskin-proximate layer of said second electrode and being of a noble metaldiffering from the noble metal of said skin-distant layer of said firstelectrode patch, and a silver electrode provided with a silver chloridegel pad applied upon said skin-distant layer of said second electrode;and c) connection means for electrically connecting said first andsecond electrode patches.